News

Labor puts country road safety in the slow lane

13 November 2018

Member for Euroa and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Steph Ryan has questioned why overtaking lanes on the Midland Hwy at Nillahcootie still haven’t been built, two and a half years after they were promised.

Ms Ryan said work was yet to start on the overtaking lanes which were promised in May 2016.

“Labor’s upper house MP announced these overtaking lanes more than two and a half years ago, but since then there has been little action,” Ms Ryan said.

“There’s no hold up in Labor’s rapid rollout of wire rope barriers, yet important safety measures like new overtaking lines on one of the most dangerous stretches of the Midland Hwy haven’t been started.”

Ms Ryan said with summer coming, it was important these works got underway.

“As the weather warms up there will be an increase in traffic to and from Lake Nillahcootie,” Ms Ryan said.

“The lake is a popular spot for recreational fishing, swimming, wake boarding and other water sports.

“Vehicles with boat and jet ski trailers need more time to slow down before turning, and more time to speed up when turning back onto the Midland Hwy.

“These overtaking lanes should have been built two years ago but we are still waiting.”

Ms Ryan said country roads had been badly neglected for the last four years under Labor.

“Both Benalla Rural City and Mansfield Shire lost $1 million a year each for road maintenance when Labor was elected and slashed country roads funding,” Ms Ryan said.

“Labor also cut the road maintenance budget by 19 per cent on coming to office.

“Most recently, Labor voted against an amendment moved by The Nationals in Parliament to see 40 per cent of revenue collected from speeding fines and traffic camera offences go directly to regional and rural road maintenance, with a further 40 per cent to maintain roads in outer suburban interface areas.

“Unfortunately Labor and the Greens voted against this amendment, blocking millions of dollars in extra funding for our roads.”